Setting aside Daniel Jones's turnover spree in the Indianapolis Colts' 19-17 win over the Houston Texans on Sunday, it was his best game of the season in passing yards and completions. Jones went over 200 yards passing by 10 yards in Week 2, but easily surpassed the mark by throwing for 235 yards in Week 3.
Jones's lack of passing yards had significantly affected the stats of his wide receivers, who, as a whole, had looked invisible through the first two weeks. Well, that changed against the Texans, and with Alec Pierce out of the lineup. On Sunday, the Colts' passing attack actually looked alive, and while Jones wasn't great by any means, the life in his wideouts was evident.
That said, even though Josh Downs, Keenan Allen, and Tyler Warren posted their best numbers of the season to date, it begs the question: was it real? Because Jones and the rest of the Colts offense have played unconvincing football this season. If it was real, it means more than their wide receivers had big days. If it was a mirage, well, what happens next?
The Indianapolis Colts WR's are hoping their performances vs the Houston Texans are a sign of things to come
Leading up to the Colts' Sunday matchup with the Texans, their offense was basically running on Jonathan Taylor's legs and fumes. Through two games, Downs had just 109 yards on nine receptions and 13 targets. Allen posted 37 yards on seven receptions and 11 targets, while Warren had only 34 yards on nice catches on 12 targets.
With Pierce out, Downs, Allen, and Warren are Jones's primary targets, and none impressed much in Weeks 1 and 2. Of course, much of that had to do with Jones, but it's not all on him. Wide receivers have to break free from their defenders and get open. Poor receiving performances helped the Colts lose their first two games, but things shifted in their third.
Downs hauled in 77 yards on five receptions, Allen 63 yards on six receptions, and Warren posted 55 yards on nine receptions. Allen was the only one of the three to log a touchdown against the Texans’ defense, while Downs is still waiting for his first of the season (Warren has two).
It's clear that, across the board, the Colts' main targets logged significantly better games than their first two combined. This is important for one very key reason: Pierce is officially on injured reserve, and there is no timetable for his return, which puts Downs and Allen firmly at the forefront of the Colts' passing attack, including Warren.
For Downs, it's time to step up from the Colts' No. 2 wideout to No. 1. For Allen, who has looked nothing like the wide receiver the offseason rumors about the Colts' interest made him out to be.
In fact, he looks nothing like the version he displayed for the Los Angeles Chargers last season, when he posted over 700 yards. The chances of him reaching that number this season don't seem to be very high.
So, what will the Colts' wide receivers look like from here on out, with Pierce gone for now? Was their collective effort against the Texans more like what Colts fans should expect and hope for? Or will their offense revert to hovering around the 200-yard mark again, as it did in the first two weeks?
The Colts needed to get the win over the Texans, but it wasn't pretty. But if their primary pass-catchers can perform as well as they did against the Texans going forward, that gives them and Jones a chance to stay competitive.
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